Type-writing machine.



J. C. IVICLAUGHLIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,-l9l5- 1,175,886, Patented Mar. 141, 1916,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSESF 1. C. IVCLAUGHLIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I6, 1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENT`0R= WITNESSES .is an objection.

" as rafrnrrr KUHN C. MCLAUGHLIN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW' JERSEY, .LSSIGNO'R- T0 UNDERWOGD TYPEWVRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YRK,

N.. Y., A CORPORATION GF DELAWRE.

erre-WRITING Macular.

.application led .Tune 16, 1915. Serial No. @,321

To all whom it may concern: v y

Be it known that l, JOHN C. MCLAUGH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residino in East 0range,in the county of Essex and State of N ew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Type Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to typewriting Inachines, and one of its principal features is the provision of means for controlling the heaviness or faintness of the ink impressions made through the usual inking ribbon.

The invention is particularly intended for use in connection with the writing of addresses upon circulars, such as are usually printed through an inking; ribbon, as for in* stance, circulars produced on the well-known multigraph machine. n printing said circulars through an ink ribbon, it is found that the ribbon of the printing machine wears rapidly, and hence. the impressions become fainter and fainter, although still legibleand satisfactory. The subsequent writing in of the necessary addresses uponthe printed circulars presents a ditliculty, because the typewriter ribbon, although originally corresponding in heavixiess of inking with the ribbon of the multigraph machine, does not wear out so rapidly, so that the typewriter ribbon will be still fresh even after writing in the addresses on a large number of multigraph circulars; whereas the multigraph printing will become'comparatively faint, for reasons above given. rl`he first addresses will cri-respond so closely to the printing upon the circular that the addressing and printing will seem to have been done upon a single typewriting machine; but after a while, the print-ingr upon the circulars becomes faint. while the typewriting of the addresses remains fresh and strong", thus callingI the .attention of the recipient of the circular to the fact that it is merely a circular, which ln overcoming this dithculty, the typewriting machine is provided with means for controlling the ink impressions of the types, so that 4the ribbon can be caused to give either a strong or faint imln controlling these ink impressions, the type-bars are arrested when thetypes are close to the platen, so that xit is necessary for the types to spring in order to reach the platen: the arresting points of the type-bars Speciation of IiettersPatent.

pression, even though the ribbon is-unworn.

being near their pivot ends, and the typebars being usually resilient enough to spring; the blow of the type being comparable to the action of snapping a whip. rlhe laten is made adjustable forwardly and ackwardly by means of a device which permits very minute adjustments; and by relying. at one point upon the arrest .of the sprlngy swinging type-bars, and at another point Aupon the minute adjustment of the platen, it is found that the ink impressions can be absolutely controlled, so that the operator can at all times make the addresses correspond precisely with the inkinO of the body of the circular, whether the latter is strongly or faintly printed.

In carrying out the invention, employ the well-known Underwood typewriting machine. in which it is customary to arrest the hub portions of the swinging type-bars or hammers. when thel types are close to the platen, and in which it is customary to shift the platen up and down for writing upper and lower case letters; and I effect a. fine forward and rearward adjustment of the printing position of the platen while in the limited field through which 'the typefbars can spring, the rock shaft which is used in shifting the platen up and down. By turning the eccentrics the platen may be drawn rearwardly or forwardly until the inl: impressions correspond exactly with the printing upon the' multigraph circular.

The device is also useful when it is desired to make a correction on a typewritten page which may have been .vritten either faintly or heavily; as platen may be adjusted so that the work ot the ribbon will be made to correspond with the work upon the typewritten page, that when the blanks are filled in, the init impressions will be all of the same tone; This is an advantage,l not only in typewritten work, but also in filling in blanks on multigraph work.

@ther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the platen, and means for adjusting it forwardly and rearwardly. Fig. is a fragmentary end ele vation View, partly in section, showing the platen adjusted rearwardly for producing Patented Mar. la, Zwin.

b mountin u on eccentrics 7 ica comparatively faint ink impressions. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing a portion ofi the carriage frame, a shiftable plate foripa' ing part of the platen Aadjusting means, and an intermediate plate, the parts being shown disassembled. Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary View of the Aplaten frame and a link connecting it to the adjusting-plate of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but with the platen vin upper case position 'and adjusted forwardly for producing comparatively heavy 'ink impressions. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View, showing one of the eccentric bushings and gearing for operating the same. Fig. -7 is an elevationl view, similar to Fig., 5, but showing more of the typewriter mechanism, and also showing the platen in .lower case position.`

The type-bars 10 provided with upper and lower case types 11 and 12, are mounted on 'a fulcrum rod 13 to swing upwardly and rearwardly to printing position at the front face of the platen 14. The type-bars are actuated bv keys 15. on key levers 16 fulcrumed at 17 and connected through bellcranks 18 to the tvpe-bars. The platen has an axle 19. journaled to the platen frame 20, and may be rotated either by hand' wheels 21 or by thezusual line-spacing mechanism, not shown. The platen frame 20 is mounted to shift up and down to upper and lower case positions in the carriage 22.

The carriage is mounted to travel on front and' rear guide rails 23 and 24, secured to the machine frame 25, and may be driven bv the usual spring motor, not shown. The letter-feed travel of the carriage may be controlled by the usual mechanism comprising escapement dogs 26 on a rocker 27. actuated by a universal bar 28, which lies in the path of shoulders 29 on the type-bars. so thatat each tvpe stroke the dog rccker 27 is actuated. The dogs 26 copera'te with the escapement wheel 30. driven bv a pinion 31 runningin mesh with a carriage rack 32.

The platen mav be shifted to upper lcase position bv means of shift kevs 33 on shift key levers 34. fulcrumed at 17. and operable to swing the'platen-shifting frame 35. which frame comprises a rock shaft 36 forming the fulcrum of said frame. and ashift rail 37 on which runs a roll 38 on the platen frame. The'platen mav thus be shifted from the lower case position. Fig. 7, to upper case position. Fig. 5. The platen is partly supported and gui-ded and held against displacement in a forward or rearward direction bv a platen-lifting frame comprising rock arms 39. fixed to a rock shaft 40 and.

projecting forwardly therefrom, the for-- ward ends of said arms provided with hooks forming hearings in which are seated studs 4l," on thefiplaten frame. An adjustable platen-liftingr spring 42 having its tension rotatively applied t0 the shaft 40, partly counter-balances the weight of the platen frame and parts supported thereby.

`hetype-bars, as they swing to printing position, are brought against a stop 43,

which may be formed on a type-bar segment 44, on which the type-bars are mounted, said segment being-fixed to the machine frame. The stop 43 is located adjacent to the type-bar fulcrum rod 13, or nearer to" ent or springy material to permit the springn ing 0f the types to printing position.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for a tine'adjustinent of the platen forwardly and rearwardly with. in the printing range of the types, in order to vary the tone of the ink impressions produced by the types striking through the ribbon 45, so that without changing the ribbon, the impressions may be varied' at will through imperceptible degrees from a comparatvely thin or faint impression to a strong or dense impression. may be fed in the usual manner, and Vibrated at each type stroke over the printing point between the type guide 46 and the platen, by the usual ribbon-vibrating mech a'nism. not shown. The ink impressions will be comparativelv heavvor light in accordance with the adjustment of the'platen forwardly or rearwardly, as just referred to.

Such adjustment of the platen is effected by the following means: The rock shaft 40 is journaled in eccentric bushings 47, which, in

rThe ribbonv turn, are mounted for Arotative adjustment in bearings 48, on the carriage frame. lt

will thus be seen that by rotating the bushings'47 in their bearings 48, the rockv shaft 40 carrying the rock arms 39. may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly, effecting a. corresponding adjustment of thev platen frame and platen. The eccentric bushings are rotated to effect such adjustment hy pinions 49, fixed to the bushings and rotated by segmental racks or gears 50. The gears 50 are iixed to a rock shaft 51 journaled in brackets 52' and fixed to the carriage frame. The shaft 51 is rocked by means of a crank 54. fixed thereto, and provided with a handle The crank 54may be formed (Fig. 6) carried bv the arm 54. The deteji'tv 60 is shown as a' ball, actuated by a spring musee 51, inthe handle 55. The throw of the Vhandle may be limited by stops 62 on the by the type striking through the ribbon. As

, the handle 55 is moved forwardly the platen is carried rearwardly, so that the distance the types have to spring forward to the printing point after the type-bars strike they stop 43, is increased and a correspondingly light or faint impression is produced. It will thus oe seen that provision is made for a fine adjustment of the platen within the striking range of the types.

In the Underwood machine it is customary to provide a link, such as the link 74, F ig. 7, connecting the carriage and platen frame, to brace the platen frame and the right-hand end ofthe platen frame, the

' pin 64 working idly in a vertical slot 65, in

said plate, as the platen is shifted up and down, but moving the plate with the platen frame as the latter is adjusted horizontally. Said plate is supported and guided by a plate 66, fixed to the carriage frame 22, as by means of screws 67 and 68. The plate 63 is formedwith slots 69 and 70, through which the screws 67, 68 extend. A pin 71 on the plate 63 extends through registered openings 72, 73, in the plate 66 and carriage frame. The pin 71 forms a fulcrum for the link 74, the forward end of said link being connected by a pivot pin 75 to the platen frame 20. The link 74, which' helps to steady the platen and prevent it from tilting las about its bearings in the rock arms 39, is

caused through the connections Just de-` scribed, to shift forwardly and rearwardly with .the arms 39.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portionsof the improvements may be ased without others.

Having. thus described my invention, I claim: y l

l'. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a platen, and key-operated swinging type-bars whose types strike through an ink-ribbon against the front side of vsaid platen; of a rigidly-mounted,

type-bars nearltheir pivot yends before their type-carrying ends reach the platen; ,and a device connected to said platen to shift the .swinging type-bars whose through an ink-ribbon against the front same horizontally in a plane parallel to itself away from the printing plane of the types, thereby to gradually render the type impressions fainter as the platen moves farther away from said printing plane.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a platen, and key-operated,

swinging type-bars whose types strike through an ink-ribbon against the front side of said platen; of a rigidly-mounted, f stationary stop arranged to engage the typebars near their pivot ends before their typecarrying'ends reach the platen; and a device connected to said platen to shift the same horizontally in a plane parallel to itself away from the printing plane of the types,

thereby to gradually render the type-impressions fainter as the platen moves farther away from said printing plane, said device comprising a shaft arranged behind and parallel with said platen and connected at opposite-ends therewith, a pair of eccentric bushings wherein said shaft is journalcd, and means for rotating both bushings equally and concurrently in the same direction, thereby to shift said shaft laterally rearward in a plane parallel to itself.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation, with a platen, and key-operated, swinging type-bars whose types strike through an ink-ribbon against the front side of said platen; of a rigidly-mounted, stationary stop arranged to engage the type bars near their pivot ends before their typecarrying ends reach the platen; and a device connected to said platen to shift the same horizontally in a plane parallel to itself away from the printing plane of the types, thereby to gradually render the type-impres sions fainter as the platen moves farther away from said printing plane,`said device comprising a shaft arranged behind and parallel with said platen and connected at opposite ends therewith. -a shaft arranged behind and parallel with the first-named shaft, means for rotating the second-named shaft, and connections between the adjacent ends of said shafts for shifting said firstnamed shaft laterally rearward in a plane parallel to itself when said second-named shaft is rotated. 4

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a. platen, andV key-operated, types strike connected; to said platen to shift the same horizontally in a plane parallel to itself stationary stop arranged to 'y engage them` way from the printing plane of the types,

awayfrom said printing plane, said comp-rising a shaft arranged 'he-hind. a" parallel with said platen and connected at opposite ends therewith, a pair of eccentric bushings wherein said shalt is journaled, a snaft arranged hehind and parallel with the tlrstnamed shaft, means for rotating the secondmarned shaft, and lconne'ctions he tween said bushings and adjacent portions of said second-named rotating both hnshings equally and concurrently in the same direction when said secondnanied shaft is rotated, thereby shift the inst-named shaft laterally rearward in a. plane parallelto itself.

- 5. ln a typewriting niarhine,`the combination, with a platen, and keV-operated, swing ing type-bars whose types strike through an ink-ribbon against the 'front side of said platen; of a rigi lly-niounte l, stationary stop arranged to engage the type-hars near their kpivot ends before their type-carryinjej ends reach the platen; and a device connected to 'said platen to shift the saine horizontally in y a plane parallel to itseliE away from the printing plane of the types, thereby to gradL ually render the type-impressions fainter as the platen moves farther away from said printing plane, said device comprising a shaft arranged behind and parallel with said platen, and means connected with the opposite' ends of said shalt and arranged for equal and concurrent operation in the saine direction, to shift said shalt laterally rearward in a plane parallel to itself. r

reach the platen; a device connec 6. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a platen, and keg/operated, swinging type-bars whose types strike through an ink-ribbonagainst the iront side of the platen; of a rigidly-mounted, stationary stop arranged to engage the type-bars their pivot ends before their typeearrying ends ed to shift sind platen horizontally in a plane parallel to itself away from the printing plane ol .the types, thereby to gradually render the type-impressions fainter as the platen moves farther away fronrsaid printing plane; and a datent associated with said device hold ing the same at short intervals throughout its range of movement, to retain said platen in adjusted position. 'i

7. In a' typewriting machine, the combination, with a platen, and key-operated, swinging type-bars Whose types strike through an inkribloo'n against the ir'ont side of platen; of a rigidly-mounted, stationary stop arrange-d to engage the type-bars near their pivot ends before their type-carrying ends reach the platen; a device connected to shift said platen horizontally in a plane parallel to itself a'Way from the printing plane of the types, thereby to gradually render the typeimpressions fainter' as the platen nieves farther away from ysaid printing plane, said device comprising an operating shaft and a natio and a detent associated for holding the same at intervals throughout its range of morera-ent, aio/retain said platen in adjusted positien.'

8. ,in a r'gypewriting machine, the combil, with aplaten, and key-operated,

swing g serpe-bars Whose `types strike through an. ink-ribbon against the front. side said platen; of a rigidly-mounted,

i their pivot ends before their typecarrying ends reach the platen; 4and a device connected to said platen to shift the saine horizontally inV a plane parallel to itsell' away from the printing plane of the types, thereby to gradually render the typennpressions fainter as the platen moves far- Y ther away from saidv printing plane, said device comprising a shaft arranged behind and parallel with said platen and connected at opposite ends therewith, and an eocentric mechanism connected with. said shaft for shitting it laterally rearward ina plane parallel 'to itself.

nation with key-operated swingingv typeloars, of n carriage, a. platen thereon shiftable to upper and lower case positions, typeii'npression .controlling means including y stop arranged to engage the type-' 9. ln a typewriting machine, the combi stopping means engaged by' the type-bars'.

.near their pivot ends to arrest the bars when their types are close to the platen, whereby the type-bars must spring to strike the platen, and means for effecting line adjustment of the platen Within the striking range of the type-bars to render the ink type-im 'pressions Ifainter or stronger at Will, said adjusting means comprising a "rock shaft,

rock arms connecting said shaft to the platen, eccentric bushings in lwhich said shaft is mounted to rock, said bushings journaled in the carriage frame, a second rock shaft jour-nailed in the carriage frame, internieshing gears on,said rock shafts, an operating crank connected to said second shaft, a pointer carried bythe crank, and an index over which said pointer Works to indicate the position of adjustment.

l0. ln a typewriting machinethe combination with a platen frame and a platen ,journaled thereon, of a carriage on which the platen frame is mounted to shift up and down to upper and lower case positions, key-operated typeehars \mounted to swing upwardly and rearwardly to printing position at the platen,`a stop to arrest the typebars when the types are close to the platen, whereby the type-bars must spring to strike the platen, means to adjust the platen toy ward and from the type-bars to render the inked type-impressions stronger or fainter at will, said adjusting'means comprising eccentric bushings journaled ,in the carriage freine, a platendifting frame comprising a aia/asse rock shaft journaled in saidbushings and rock arms fixed to the ends of said shaft and connected tothe platen frame, whereby said shaft is rocked as the platen is shifted up and down, a second rock shaft journaled in the carriage frame, intermeshing gears connected respectively to said bushings and to saidsecond rock shaft, and an operating crank connected to said second rock shaft for rotating said bushings, and thereby adjusting the platenv forwardly or rearwardly within the printing range of the types to render the type-impressions fainter or stronger at will.

l1. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a platen frame and a platen journaled thereon, of a carriage on which the platen frame is mounted to shift up and down to upper and lower case positions, key-operated type-bars mounted to swing upwardly and rearwardly to printing position at the platen, a stop to arrest the typebars when the types are close to the'platen, whereby the type-bars must spring to strike the platen, means to adjust the platen toward and from the type-bars to render the inked type-impressions stronger or fainter at will, said adjusting means comprising eccentric bushings jourhaled in the carriage frame, a platen-lifting frame comprising a rock shaft journaled in said bushings and.4

rock arms fixed to the ends ofsaidshaft and connected to the platen frame, whereby said shaft is rocked as the platen is shifted up and down, a second rock shaft journaled in the carriage frame, intermeshing gears connected respectively to said bushings and to said second rock shaft, and an operating crank connected to said second rock shaft for rotating said bushings, and thereby adjusting the platen forwardly or rearwardly within the printing range of the types to render the type-impressions fainter or stronger at will, a plate shiftably mounted the carriage frame and connected to one of said rockv arms to be shifted forwardly and rearwardly with the platen frame, and a link connecting said shifting plate-*with the platen frame to prevent tilting of the platen.,

12. in a typewriting machine, the combination, with key-operated, swinging typebars; of. a carriage; a platen thereon; typeimpressions contfolling means including a stop engaged by the type-bars near their pivot ends to arrest the bars when their type-carrying ends areclose to the platen,

- whereby said type-carrying ends are caused adjusting means comprising a roclrshaft, rock arms connecting said shaft to the platen, eccentric. bushings in which said shaft is allowed to rock, said bushings jour-l naled in the carriage frame, a second rock shaft journaled in said carriage frame, intermeshing gears on said rock shafts, and an operating member connected to the second-named rock shaft.

13. In a typewriting machine, in which the types are arranged to strike against the front face of the platen, the combination with a carriage and a platen frame and platen mounted thereon to shift up and down to upper and lower case positions, of a platen-lifting frame comprising a rock shaft supported on the carriage in .rear of the platen and having rock arms thereon extending forwardly and connected to the platen frame, a lifting springtoperating through said shaft to partly counterbalance the weight of the platen frame and -parts lcarried thereby, means for adjusting the rock shaft forwardly and' rearwardly on the carriageI frame to adjust the platen forwardly 'and rearwardly, a plate shiftably mounted on the carriage and connected with said lifting frame to be shifted forwardly and rearwardly therewith, and a link havin its ends connected respectively to said slnftable plate and the platen frame to prevent the latter from tilting.

JOHN C. MCLAUGHLN.

Witnesses:

JULIUS DUCKSTINE, W'. O. Wns'rrHAL.

type- `impressions fainter or stronger at will, said 

